Overview & Reviews

Toyota is a Japanese brand whose refined, well-designed vehicles have earned it a great deal of popularity. Toyotas also have a superb record for reliability and durability, which goes a long way toward justifying their typically high purchase prices. For buyers who plan on owning their new vehicles for a long time, the Toyota marque is a very compelling choice.

The automaker's name is a variation of the surname of its founder, Kiichiro Toyoda. After years of research, Toyoda unveiled his first prototype, the A1, in 1935, marking the birth of the Toyota Motor Corporation. The '40s witnessed the launch of additional passenger cars and even a pickup. By the end of the decade, the automaker had produced more than 100,000 vehicles.

Toyota grew bigger in the '50s and expanded its roster with a slew of new small cars. The company also unveiled the utilitarian BJ truck; this vehicle was the precursor to the Land Cruiser. By the end of the decade, Toyota had commenced exports to the U.S. with the establishment of Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A., Inc. The first Toyota to be sold on American shores was the Crown; it held the distinction of being the first Japanese car to be sold Stateside.

The '60s witnessed even more growth for the emerging juggernaut. Toyota introduced the Corolla, an immensely popular model that is still in production today. Vehicles like the home-market Publica, the 2000GT, Hiace and Miniace were also launched. The decade closed with Toyota reporting annual domestic sales of 1 million units; cumulative exports also reached 1 million.

Japanese-market cars like the Carina, Light Ace and Publica Starlet were launched during the 1970s. In the States, the Corolla grew in popularity and the Corona and Mk II models debuted as well. The successful Celica sports coupe was also rolled out and would remain in production for more than 30 years. Toyota's shadow had spread far beyond Japan by this point. The decade's oil crisis had made the manufacturer's compact, fuel-efficient models more popular than ever in the United States. By the time the '70s drew to a close, the automaker had exported more than 10 million vehicles.

Toyota expanded its presence in the U.S. market during the '80s, with the introduction of popular models like the 4Runner SUV and the MR2 sports car. The true high point of these years, though, was the birth of the Toyota Camry sedan. Originally known as the Celica Camry in Japan, the car went on to be a hit of phenomenal proportions, earning kudos as America's best-selling car of the year time and time again.

During the '90s, Toyota rolled out the Avalon full-size sedan and expanded its selection of SUVs with the compact RAV4. By the end of the decade, more than 100 million Toyota vehicles had been produced in Japan. The company also proved itself on the cutting edge of new technology with the rollout of the Prius, the world's first mass-produced hybrid. The car debuted in Japan in 1997; by 2001, the fuel-sipping sedan had made its way to American highways. Despite the presence of a growing number of competitors in its segment, the Prius continues to boast class-leading sales.

Toyota's current lineup is relatively extensive, including minivans, cars, trucks and SUVs. The brand remains extremely popular among savvy consumers who place a high value on quality and dependability.

User Reviews:

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  rav 4 - 2006 Toyota RAV4
  By liz - August 21 - 11:30 pm

  goes forever on a tank of gas great fuel economy

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  Proud New Owner - 2005 Toyota Camry
  By Lina - August 21 - 8:00 pm

  Im a new Toyota Camry owner. Mine is only two days old. I went from a Lexus IS300 to a Toyota/Camry and I really dont see much difference. Frankly, this car is more comfortable than my IS300 Lexus. Its very roomy and I love the trunk space. I recommend this car for its look, driving performance, etc. Ill let you know later how well it does on gas mileage but right now, Im a happy and proud owner of a Camry :)

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  Great Little Car - 2007 Toyota Corolla
  By Fixx33 - August 21 - 7:53 pm

  I bought this car for my daily commute (about 55kms one way). I bought the SE (special edition) so it came with a sunroof. I was a little annoyed it didnt come with cruise control. The car has plenty of pickup for merging onto the highway and bombing around the city. Gas mileage was a little less than promised but still good. I would agree that the steering wheel position is difficult for taller drivers. It can be difficult to grab the steering wheel while finding a comfortable location for you legs. Plenty of space for a commuter car and lots of trunk room. Almost two years later no mechanical issues and the price was right.

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  What happened to Toyota? - 2005 Toyota Matrix
  By Jeri F. - August 21 - 6:43 pm

  I ordered my Toyota Matrix with a 5speed manual trans. I have always driven manual and wanted to continue. My car is 4 years old and Im installing a new clutch! My last Toyota Corolla was 15 years old and no clutch. I also had to replace the tires at about 15K miles. I had a little Chevy S10 p/u with manual trans and it was great except I wanted more interior. It was 5 years and I didnt have to replace anything. What has happened to Toyotas? Im so disappointed.

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  I LOVE this little car - 2005 Toyota Corolla
  By Tom Hudson - August 21 - 6:26 pm

  This is my first Japanese vehicle in 20 years. I am 57, the car is PERFECT for my needs. I drive from Richmond to DC, once a week on I 95, and in city driving 6 days a week. The car gets fantastic gas mileage. My LE has all the bells and whistles that my former BMW HAD and MORE.

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  Youll Love This Van! - 2005 Toyota Sienna
  By Lee Ann - August 21 - 11:50 am

  This is my second Sienna. I had a 2002 and was pretty happy but the 2005 is amazing. The ride,the interior comfort, the response when getting on the road - amazing. I would recommend this to anyone interested in maximum passenger space yet still fun to drive.

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  My Highlander - 2013 Toyota Highlander
  By luvtoyota10 - August 21 - 8:47 am

  I got this highlander on the first of december last year. Since then, it has been a great car. I know, its not that exciting but it repays you with its great reliability. Everything has been fine, despite some issues with routine maintenance at my Toyota Dealer. The steering is unpredictable, its not dangerous or scary. Sometimes it has a weightier feel (which I like) and other times, a light steering feel. On a trip to Indianapolis I averaged 24mpg there and back. I like the iPhone/iPod integration and back up camera. It does many things well. Quiet ride and handles like a car. It was fantastic in the snow. It went through 6 inches NO prob. Not sure If I like the 2014 Highlander design.

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  Happy With It! - 2006 Toyota RAV4
  By RI CAROL - August 21 - 8:20 am

  Traded a Highlander for the RAV4. Love the new design and size. Lumbar support is great for driver. The middle bench that slides back/forth is very useful. Storage under the rear storage very useful as well. Happy with my 30 mpg gas mileage.

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  Ok for what it is, but headlights are bad - 2014 Toyota Corolla
  By Chris - August 21 - 7:37 am

  Ive owned this car for a little over two years. Prior to that, I had a 4-speed 2001 Corolla CE that I owned for 5 years. Pros: - The engine is a typical Toyota engine, which means it hasnt changed much over the years. While it might lack some of the power compared to its competitors, Id be pretty confident with it lasting a long time. - The CVT isnt too bad in this vehicle. Toyota put in artifical shift points so it feels more like a conventional transmission. Reliability seems to be pretty good as I havent seen any failures posted online. - The interior is pretty nice. The S model has some nice stitching that makes it feel upscale. - The back seats are pretty roomy and comfortable. Granted, this generation is larger than the past ones, but its good if you need to shuttle people. - MPGs are pretty good. I get 35 average with mixed city/highway driving. This drops to 32 in the winter. But Im in general pretty light on the throttle. Cons: - The headlights are awful. I dont understand how so many people rated them as good. Theres a "lid" on the LED headlights to prevent it shining out too much. What this does is creates a sharp cut-off for low-beams. To make things worse, because the lights are bright white, it means you cant see anything beyond the cut-off point. It also is very blinding to other drivers. I cant stand it when another Corolla comes up behind me. I honestly try to avoid driving at night with this car, but that becomes impossible to do in winter. I never had this issue with my old car. - Handling is poor and requires a lot of manual correction. The steering doesnt transmit a lot of feedback to the driver. - The CVT loves to rev up everytime you apply the gas even in small amounts. This causes the engine RPMs to jostle around a lot. Even with the artifical shift points, its still a CVT at the end of the day and rather dull. Engine braking with it is barely there as its designed for fuel economy. - The Entune system doesnt allow mp3 files and folders to be read like a directory on a computer. It insists on reading all the tags and sorting them that way. If you want to play files on a USB stick or CD, make sure they are all tagged correctly first. - The dashboard and interior lights are all bright blue or white and are constantly illuminated. Id much prefer a softer color for night driving. - The automatic headlights were removed in this generation. Between this and the previous issue, Ive seen other Corolla drivers with headlights off at dusk. Thats not a good thing at all. If it wasnt for the headlight issue, this would be another Corolla that I would keep for many years. But because of the headlight issue, Im probably going to trade it in for something else.

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  Toyota Avalon-not just for the silver set anymore - 2015 Toyota Avalon
  By m bock - August 21 - 2:58 am

  We have had exceptional luck with our Toyota cars, as theyve lasted 300k+ miles. We started looking at Camrys for our 21 year old daughter. But once she saw the inside of an Avalon, there was no other choice for her. She LOVES the styling, and there are all sorts of tech features that she cant live without. According to her, few people over age 55 could take advantage of all the technology (but they can still drive it!). As a marketing and animation major, she has a real eye for design, and this car won hands down over many others.